Many children can benefit from braces.  Dental braces are applied by an orthodontist, and are devices used to straighten and fix gaps between teeth and align a person’s bite.  Many parents wonder what the best age is for their child to get braces.  Here are a few things to keep in mind.

It’s often considered that if a child gets braces too early, their teeth may continue to shift after the braces are removed and further dental treatment may be required later in life.  Conversely, if a child gets them too late, the position of their teeth may be more resistant to correction, so the braces may need to be worn for a longer period of time or may cause additional problems for teens who are already dealing with the challenging teenage years.

For some kids, the first orthodontic visit is recommended by age 7 or at the first sign that teeth may not be straight.  At this age, your child’s teeth and jaw are still developing, so some issues are easier to address.

In most cases however, if the growth pattern of the teeth is not a concern, braces can be placed after all the primary (baby) teeth have exfoliated, or fallen out, and the jaw is stable enough to support long-term orthodontic treatment.  This is usually around 10-12 years of age. 

As with all dental care, it’s important for kids to see a dentist regularly so their teeth and bite can be assessed to determine if they could benefit from orthodontic care, which may include braces.